Global management consultancy Analysys Mason has completed a buyout from Datatec, with management and investor Bridgepoint Development Capital acquiring the firm at an enterprise value of £210 million.
The deal sees Analysys Mason return to independence 18 years after it was acquired by Datatec, a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Then trading as Analysys, the consultancy was merged with Datatec’s existing telecommunications consultancy to form Analysys Mason.
Under the wings of Datatec, Analysys Mason has grown into one of the world’s leading strategic consultancies in the telecoms, media and technology (TMT) landscape. The specialist firm has around 400 consultants and staff in 15 countries, and generated $90 million in revenues during its latest financial year.
“Analysys Mason has developed significantly with Datatec’s support over the past two decades to become one of the world’s leading TMT management consultancies with an enviable track record. We believe that the time is right to hand over to the new shareholders who can take the business forward on its next growth phase” said Jens Montanana, the CEO of Datatec.
The sale is in line with Datatec’s strategic review process (advised on by Lazard), and creates a simpler group with two principal businesses, Logicalis (IT services) and Westcon International (IT distribution).
Analysys Mason is now majority owned by Bridgepoint, an international alternative private assets management group with assets under management of more than €30 billion, with management shareholders re-investing alongside the finance investor.
“We are very excited to partner with Bridgepoint, a proven partner for professional services firms looking to fulfil their ambitions and realise their full potential,” said Bram Moerman, Executive Vice Chair at Analysys Mason.
Together, the partners aim to steer Analysys Mason through “its next phase of growth as an independent platform”, added Moerman.
The growth agenda has three key pillars: scaling in current geographies, expansion into new markets, and targeted acquisitions (over the past years Analysys Mason closed deals in Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United States).
“The telecoms, media and technology space continues to grow in size and complexity, extending the breadth of the addressable market and providing runway for continued strong organic growth. We’ve identified strategic growth areas and share management’s ambition to grow the platform both organically and inorganically,” said Matt Legg, a Partner of Bridgepoint Development Capital.
Founded in 1985, Analysys Mason serves clients with four key consulting offerings: strategy, transaction support, business transformation and regulation & policy. The London-headquartered consulting firm also has a research and intelligence wing.
The firm serves its global client base from offices in London, Bonn, Cambridge, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Kolkata, Lund, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, New Delhi, New York, Oslo, Paris, Singapore and Stockholm.
